1 dead, 2 seriously hurt in rollover crash

MISSION VALLEY  One man died and two other passengers were seriously hurt after being ejected during a rollover crash on Interstate 8 in Mission Valley early Sunday morning, a California Highway Patrol dispatcher said.

About 1:40 a.m., the 22-year-old driver of a 2000 Ford Explorer lost control for unknown reasons, causing the SUV to overturn just west of Hotel Circle, the dispatcher said.

Three passengers were ejected. A 25-year-old man sustained fatal injuries. A 46-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were seriously injured. All three were from San Diego.

The driver, also of San Diego, and another passenger - a 20-year-old woman from La Mesa - suffered minor injuries. Both were wearing seat belts. The driver was arrested in connection with the crash. It's unclear whether speeding, drugs or alcohol were involved.

According to the CHP's online dispatch, the freeway was closed for more than an hour while authorities investigated. A witness said a cab driver and another driver almost got into a fight about 2:15 a.m. when the cab driver tried to use the freeway shoulder to pass backed-up traffic.